KORN Guitarist Talks Lineup Changes, Upcoming Album

BigMusicGeek.com recently conducted an interview with KORN guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.

BigMusicGeek.com: What can you tell in regards to the group's recent recording sessions? Any truth to the rumor(s) that the group is actually working on simultaneously completing two separate full-length efforts due early next year?

Munky: "We're just really compiling a bunch of material. We're just writing in a small room. We did some of it in Hollywood in a small Iso Room about the size of a one car garage. We're recording bits and pieces. Once we get back home, we're gonna put 'em together where they make a little more sense. I'm only writing one record [laughs], but it if turns into two, then that's cool. My goal is to get the one best record. We usually write a lot of material and just choose the best of it. There's usually enough to make two records."

BigMusicGeek.com: In retrospect, how have the departures of (guitarist) Brian ("Head" Welch) and (drummer) David (Silveria) affected the group's songwriting abilities? Internally, has the hierarchy remained primarily intact?

Munky: "Well, (bassist) Fieldy and I have always been the main songwriters. Him and I are always comin' up with the main riffs and stuff and (vocalist) Jonathan (Davis) adds the lyrics and vocals on top of it later. That hasn't changed. Now, we're writing songs with (drummer) Ray Luzier and he's such an amazing drummer and is so easy to work with. And it's refreshing to be with (producer) Ross (Robinson) again. He really pulls that raw emotion out of us. It's just exciting. It does feel that way. We'll have to wait and see, but it does feel like it's heading in that direction. We didn't consciously say, 'We need to do our old stuff,' ya know? With Ross, there's always this raw energy, sort of a feeling. That's what we had on our first two albums (1994's 'Korn' and 1996's 'Life Is Peachy') that we did with him, so I'm kinda expecting a raw, emotional feeling again."

BigMusicGeek.com: Prior to Ray becoming a full-fledged member of the group, was serious consideration given to anyone else? Did the group's status as an established act offer a reprieve from the traditional audition process?

Munky: "Not really. We did have one day where we did auditions. We had a few people audition one afternoon. There were some good drummers. Tommy (Clufetos) that used to play with ROB ZOMBIE? He's an excellent drummer. He was the only other one where we were like, 'Maybe.' (SLIPKNOT drummer) Joey (Jordison) stepped into the picture. We contacted him and he was like, 'Yeah, dude. I'll do it,' so he toured with us for like a year. And then, towards one of the last shows, on the Family Values Tour, we had Ray come down to one of the soundchecks. He brought a rental kit and sat in. He had learned like twenty songs. We just kept namin' off songs and he did just an amazing job, so we were like, 'Well, we don't need to look any further.' He nailed it and I was like, 'Wow.' He was just really good."

BigMusicGeek.com: At what point did everyone come to the realization that David wasn't going to be involved with the group on a permanent basis? Was there a clear and defining moment or was it more of a gradual acknowledgment?

Munky: "Probably when we began to write the second album without him. With the first one, we were like, 'Okay, he just needs some time.' It's still one of those things where we're like, 'Is he really gone? Maybe he'll come back,' so there's still this little bit of hope, ya know? Even up to three weeks ago when I found out David had sold all of his drums and never wants to play the drums again, I was blown away. I was like, 'Wow, he doesn't even want to be in another band?' I'm over him not wanting to play with us, but he doesn't want to ever play the drums again? That just took me back, ya know? I told everyone in the band that and they were like, 'Wow.' I can't believe he's not coming back. He's one of the best drummers in the world. I'm still in disbelief, but that's the way it is. It's painful, ya know? It was like losin' Brian. We kind underwent this separation anxiety because these people were a major part of our lives and then they weren't there. The next day they're just gone. And I've never talked to either one of them ever again. It's weird. Each of us kinda deal with it in our own different way. It's almost as if a death has occurred. There's no contact with anyone in the band, I believe. I think Fieldy spoke to Head the other week briefly on the telephone and that was the first time they had talked in years. These are the people that we grew up with. We had dreams together and we saw those dreams unfold. Then one falls off and the other falls off. Drug addiction has been a really big part of it."

BigMusicGeek.com: Do you feel David's departure is directly related to his various addictions? Taking everything into consideration, how important is each member's sobriety to the continued longevity of the group as a whole?

Munky: "I don't know with David, honestly. I really feel like his heart just wasn't into it and that may have been why he was doin' a lot of drugs. But then again, when I think back, I'm like, 'Well, I'm into it and I did a lot of drugs.' (laughs) So it's kinda hard to tell, really. Sobriety is extremely important. It's pretty black and white now. It's like, 'Okay, we had our drug days, but now we have families,' ya know? This is what we love to do, so let's not jeopardize it by acting like a fool or a kid. We're grown men, so let's act like it, ya know?"

Read the entire interview at BigMusicGeek.com.

The members of KORN took part in a press conference prior to their June 12 appearance at the Download festival, which was held June 12-14 at Donington Park, United Kingdom. Watch the question-and-answer session below.